There are common threads of initiative and drive across military service, finance, and startup experiences that contribute to success.

Being absolutely 100% focused on your startup's mission is a significant advantage over larger companies, which often juggle multiple priorities.

It's crucial for startup CEOs to spend time near the military units they aim to support to understand their needs better.

The military's trust and cohesion can be instilled in companies by fostering teamwork and a shared understanding of mission importance.

The journey is more important than the destination. After leaving the military, I co-founded a company not for profit, but to create a team and a sense of camaraderie, which I realized was what mattered most to me.

It's crucial for startups to understand their identity and approach, whether they are mercenaries seeking profit or missionaries passionate about their product.

Mission-driven cultures are challenging to create, but they are incredibly rewarding. When a company has a real mission, it fosters a sense of purpose among its employees.

Startups can help identify problems within the military, but they cannot solve the fundamental issues of how we articulate our needs.

We realized that the most important step in starting a company is defining your mission, which serves as a compass for your direction, rather than just focusing on technology or funding.